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City of Arcades
Cardiff has the biggest concentration of Victorian, Edwardian, and modern-day indoor shopping arcades in Britain
Cardiff arcade shops
Cardiff is a city of castles and culture. If you like your shopping or supporting local businesses, there are 7 unique Victorian and Edwardian arcades sitting alongside some of the biggest names on the high street. With over 100 independent cafes, bars and shops right in the heart of the city centre, the arcades offer a truly unique shopping experience.
A little-known fact about Cardiff is that it has the biggest concentration of Victorian, Edwardian, and modern-day indoor shopping arcades in Britain. These corridors wind through the centre of the Welsh capital, crammed with boutique shops, family-run cafes, independent bookstores, gelato bars, and hidden tea houses. 150 years of Welsh retail history are brought together, now modernised to reflect the vibrancy of life in the city; these independent businesses are at the heart of Cardiff, The City of Arcades.
It wasn’t always like this. The Royal Arcade was the first indoor shopping street to open in the city in 1858 after clearing a slum house. Further arcades followed and still stand proud in the city centre, attracting shoppers for over a century. Those antique buffs amongst you will love the Royal Arcade, which has a great selection of antique jewellery and collectables. A selection of handicraft products can also be found with ethically sourced clothes, shawls and bags. If you are an avid foodie, you will love the local deli where you can buy locally produced cheese, Christmas hampers and wine.
The Morgan Arcade has an abundance of stylish boutiques and refined gentlemen’s fashion. As you walk through the arcade, you will be taken in by the offer of high-quality clothes and shoes such as stylish men’s brogues, handcrafted accessories and more! If music is your passion, take a step back in time at Spillers Record, the oldest record shop in the world. You can also find some beautiful collections of fine art for your creative side.
The Castle Arcade runs opposite Cardiff Castle and features a beautiful gallery with a wooden second-floor balcony and footbridges. One of the longer of Cardiff’s famous Victorian arcades, it is also one of the city’s only two-level shopping arcades other than Cardiff Central Market. You will find an array of edible goodies, including speciality cheeses, bread and pasta, fair-trade and organic clothing, boutique shops, cafes and delis.
High Street Arcade is known for its range of designer and vintage clothes, jewellery, and one of the oldest surf and skateboarding shops in Wales. You will also find children’s clothes, toys, gifts, and a New York-style deli. Duke Street Arcade is just opposite Cardiff Castle in the Castle Quarter and is lined with stores, including hairdressers, bridal shops, Welsh gifts, jewellery and much more.
Constructed in 1921, Dominions is the newest of all the arcades. Situated on the busy Queen Street, it is the smallest of the arcades but by no means the least impressive. Luxurious architecture intertwined with contemporary fittings make this the place for a pretty picture.
Wyndham Arcade runs from St Mary Street to Mill Lane. Originally, the arcade played host to 35 shops and cellars. Now a bustling street of activity, the arcade houses a variety of eateries, including Bills restaurant, Ask Italian, Waterloo Tea, Servini’s Café and Kiwi’s bar. As well as several independent eclectic shops and beauticians such as music store PMT and Cuban cigar shop Havana House.
Future Inn Cardiff is an ideal base for the night, offering various sized rooms, including ones that can sleep up to four adults or a family. Perks include free car parking, free wifi and a complimentary robe and slippers. Book direct for the best available rates on our website or by contacting the Reservations Team on 02920 487111 or reservations.cardiff@futureinns.co.uk.
Book direct for the best rates guaranteed, with rooms from £67 per room per night.
We know flexibility is important now more than ever, so we've changed our rates to give our guests more choice. We've got you covered with super flexible hotel rates offering free cancellation and semi-flexible rates offering great value stays with plenty of options.
For additional benefits, you can join the Future Inns hotel loyalty program. For every £1 you spend on accommodation, you earn 1 reward point. Plus, get double points when you dine in the restaurant. Points can then be used to upgrade your bedroom to a suite or a free night's stay. You also get a complimentary drink voucher to redeem when you dine in the restaurant (you'll also get double points, too!) and a member's discount rate. It's also completely free to join!
Thomas Restaurant is ideal to fuel up before exploring. Every day the team serve breakfast, brunch, lunch, evening a-la-carte or traditional roasts on Sunday. A homemade Taste of Wales Afternoon Tea is served daily between 1pm-5pm or our set menu offers 3 courses for £25 daily between 5pm-10pm. A large selection of alcoholic and soft drinks is also available, including Welsh beer and spirits, wine by the glass or the bottle, plus 2 for £16 cocktails.
Reservations can be made on 02920 487111 or thomas@futureinns.co.uk, or online: